Via
Gorontalo to the Togian Islands (2002)
Since we wanted to take seriously
the warnings about increased danger of malaria infection on
the Togian islands also immediately
after the rainy season, we started with
the prophylaxis in time. After the studies of leaflets and the
detailed descriptions on the page http://www.sulawesi-info.com/togianislands we
knew that a ferry from Gorontalo to
Wakai on the Togian islands would start on Saturday in the evening.
To have sufficient time in reserve my woman and me appeared already
on Thursday morning at the bus terminal in Manado.
After we had seen
these big crowded busses with closely packed passengers, we
decided without hesitation on a journey with a chartered car.
Together with three Indonesian passengers we started
towards Gorontalo. It had become already almost
11 o'clock in the meantime. On the way our driver stopped
a few times at one of the restaurants beside the street. We
finally came into a police control shortly before Gorontalo.
We were politely asked for our passports and could continue
the journey after approx. one hour stay (after handing over
of a couple of one thousand rupiah).
It was already late in the evening
now, though and our driver was hungry and tired after a vain
searching for our hotel MELATI. So he was no longer
ready to do further and suggested us another little hotel
instead. Since the building made quite a neat impression
from outside, the price seemed us acceptably and
we were rather worn-out because of the long journey, we
finally gave in. But soon after we should regret this
bitterly. When we wanted to go namely to bed, we had to
discover the traces of a night of love on our sheets.
We were however too tired to look for other accommodation.
Therefore we merely asked the staff to change the bedlinen.
In
the early morning we set off for the "MELATI". It
offered clean rooms, surrounded by a lovingly well-tended garden.
One should just listen to advice
...
The owner of the hotel was a very kind and
helpful man indeed. He gave us valuable tips how to spend our
time in and around Gorontalo usefully. It was very favorable
for us that his son operated an Internet café ("WARTEL")
in front
of the hotel with the possibility for making a telephone call
immediately.
I have recently discovered a very informative website about
the Togians. If you plan a trip there on your own initiative
(and you understand German), you should absolutely visit Nikswieweg.
The report of Nik is considerably more comprehensiv and more
up to date than mine.
Please!
If you want to pass a small
comment on this web site or if you like to write about own
experiences, then take a little time for my Guest
Book. You may help other travellers by this.
I willingly answer your questions...
(info@bunaken-klaus.com)
but please, read carefully
my pages first. And consider that I am not an expert for
everything, also not for medical questions or for cheap plane
tickets.
Pictures of our Trip to the
Togians:
With the following photos I would like to convey
you an impression of our experiences:
|
